The Ulan Coal mine comprises both open cut and underground coal mining operations. On its website Ulan Coal states that the mine is located "near the village of Ulan in the central west of NSW, approximately 45 kilometres north-north-east of Mudgee and 25 kilometres north-east of Gulgong. Ulan Mine is located at the headwaters of the Goulburn River Catchment."[1]

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Ulan West expansion

The Ulan West expansion project is currently the subject of a feasibility study, is expected to be commissioned in 2012. The project will cost $500 million to build and employ 800 people during construction and 435 when operating.[2]

In November 2010, Mitsubishi said that it and Swiss-based miner Xstrata PLC (XTA.LN) will roughly double the production capacity of the Ulan Coal mine in New South Wales state in Australia to 12.9 million metric tons a year, with commercial production targeted starting in 2014. Mitsubishi has a 10% stake in the mine while Xstrata holds the remainder. The two partners will invest A$1.3 billion in the expansion, the Japanese trading house said in a statement. The partners will sell the new output to Japan and other foreign customers.[3]

Ownership

The Ulan mine and lease area is managed by Xstrata Coal Australia Pty Limited, which owns 90% of Ulan Coal Mines Ltd (UCML), with the remaining 10% held by its joint venture partner Mitsubishi Development.[1]